CSR investment for a two-sided platform: Network externality and risk aversionShow others and affiliations
2023 (English)In: European Journal of Operational Research, ISSN 0377-2217, E-ISSN 1872-6860, Vol. 307, no 2, p. 694-712Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The business of two-sided platforms, such as those used for online ride-sharing, has expanded rapidly thanks to opportunities to efficiently match supply- and demand-side users. However, the development of these platforms faces the challenge of complying with corporate social responsibility (CSR) regulations, particularly on the supply side of two-sided platforms. How to improve CSR investment, in order to reduce CSR violations while ensuring profitability, is now an important question. In this paper, we develop a game-theoretic model for a two-sided platform and analyze the impacts of network externalities (including customer network externality and provider network externality) and risk aversion on CSR investment decision-making. The analytical results show that, contrary to our intuition, greater network externalities do not necessarily stimulate the platform to invest in CSR. When the strength of customer network externality is high, investment in CSR may have a "dilution effect", i.e., CSR investment may reduce the platforms number of users and profit. Conversely, risk aversion always has an "incentive effect" on CSR investment, thereby increasing the platforms willingness to invest in CSR. Second, both provider and customer network externalities will increase the platforms prices. Interestingly, when the strength of customer network externality is high, the platform attracts more customers, even at high prices. Finally, our analysis indicates that risk aversion may reduce customer surplus when the strength of customer network externality is high. This result contradicts the initial expectation that risk aversion inspires platforms to invest in CSR, thereby improving customer utility and customer surplus.& COPY; 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
ELSEVIER , 2023. Vol. 307, no 2, p. 694-712
Keywords [en]
Supply chain management; Game theory; Behavioral operation research; Platform management; Risk management; Price per
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-197425DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2022.08.048ISI: 001053617800001OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-197425DiVA, id: diva2:1796283
Note
Funding Agencies|National Natural Science Foundation of China [18ZDA060]; Major Program of the National Social Science Foundation of China; [71672121]
2023-09-122023-09-122023-09-12